News in Brief July 22 – Archer Daniels, Pizza Hut and More

Archer Daniels Accused of Selling Poisonous Horse Feed

Archer Daniels Midland Co. has been accused of selling feed that was poisonous for horses. The proposed class action claims that the horse feed was contaminated with a chemical additive (monensin) that increases the weight and market value of cattle, but causes health problems (including possible heart failure) in horses. The lawsuit is looking to recover full refunds for buyers, compensation for the damage done, and an order requiring Archer Daniels to change the way it manufactures its products.

Pizza Hut Settles CA Wage Lawsuit

Pizza Hut Inc. has agreed to pay $6 million to end a class action claiming that it underpaid its California employees. The suit claimed that the workers weren’t paid properly for missed break periods and that delivery drivers were shorted on reimbursements for gas and vehicle mileage. If the settlement is granted final approval, nearly 18,000 Pizza Hut employees will be able to make claims for their unpaid wages.

Johnson & Johnson Can’t Undo Hip Implant Verdict

A state appeals court in California won’t overturn an $8.3 million verdict in a hip implant lawsuit brought by a retired prison guard against Johnson and Johnson. Plaintiff Loren Kransky claimed that his hip implant was defective and caused him severe pain and loss of mobility. Johnson & Johnson’s motion to undo the jury’s verdict was denied because the court found that there was more than enough evidence to support Kransky’s claims.

Uber Settles Driver Gratuity Suit

Uber has reportedly settled a class action claiming that the company illegally took part of a 20 percent gratuity charge that riders thought was going to the drivers exclusively. If the settlement is granted final approval, it will allow the riders to claim a refund for the 40-50 percent that Uber took out of the gratuity charge. The settlement is requesting that Uber pay the legal fees and the riders’ share separately, with $340,000 going to the attorneys and $430,000 going to the riders.

GM May Recall More Cars Over Takata Airbags

General Motors has announced that it may recall 4.3 million more vehicles that were installed with the defective Takata airbags. According to GM, further testing will show that there isn’t a large safety risk and that the vehicles won’t need to be repaired. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the automaker has until September 2016 to show them the results of the testing.